FFR 20

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Interview with Jirawat Plekhongthu, Photographer Our fascination with a series of photographs of fish in dancelike motion compelled us to become more familiar with their creator, the decorous and erudite Jirawat Plekhongthu. FFR: Perhaps we could start with a synopsis of your life and calling. Plekhongthu: I was born in 1990 and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Geology from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. In 2015, I started the series called The Elegance of Siamese Fighting Fish. I’m an artist featured in the FineArtGate photo gallery located in Geneva, Switzerland. I also sell my pictures on a microstock site. FFR: Where do you presently work and live? Plekhongthu: I work from my home in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand. FFR: That brings to mind the provincial seal, which displays the Kuha Karuhas Pavilion. The Pavilion was built when King Chulalongkorn paid visit to the Praya Nakorn Cave. And of course, your university is named after that king! How did you become a photographer? Plekhongthu: The turning point occurred during my last year in university. I took a photography course and I found myself passionate in my desire to share the beauty of the natural world through my artistic perspective. Then I had many opportunities to experience different kinds of photography as a freelance/commercial photographer. FFR: What prompted you to take photographs of fish? Plekhongthu: When I was a boy, my father gave me a pet called "Pla-kad" in Thai langue (Siamese fighting fish). They have become my lovely pets because of their strong shape and colour. Originally in Thailand you could commonly find them in canals, rice paddies and floodplains. Later, when I grew up, I saw them in the Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok, Thailand. They're so beautiful and look more elegant than the fish that I had when I was a child. That is because Thai fish farmers have developed various species of them. They're amazing both in colour and pattern. I wanted to capture the movement of them with the same sense of awe that I experienced in my childhood and convey their beauty to the world. FFR: Obviously, you have succeeded. Is it hard to wait for the perfect moment? Plekhongthu: Yes, it's quite difficult. Each fish moves in a unique way. What I can do is clean the fish tank, ensure that the water is clear and set the lights. And then I patiently wait for the perfect moment. FFR: Ah, yes, or as photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson called it, “the decisive moment”, taking his inspiration from 17th century Jean François Paul de Gondi, cardinal de Retz, who wrote: "Il n'y a rien dans ce monde qui n'ait un moment decisif" ("There is nothing in this world that does not have a decisive moment"). Where can our readers find your wonderful work—these “decisive moments?” Plekhongthu: You can find my work on the following websites: https://500px.com/jirawatplekhongthu http://www.jirawatfoto.com/
“The secretive argument communicates the exchange.” George S. Patton, in conversation with Chief Sitting Bull on The Dick Cavett Show
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